chine

¹

[ chahyn ]

noun

, British Dialect.

1. a ravine formed in rock by the action of running water.

chine

²

[ chahyn ]

noun

1. the backbone or spine, especially of an animal.
2. the whole or a piece of the backbone of an animal with adjoining parts, cut for cooking.
3. a ridge or crest, as of land.
4. Nautical.
   1. an angular intersection of the sides and bottom of a vessel.
   2. a longitudinal member running behind this.

verb (used with object)

, chined, chin·ing.

1. (in butchering) to sever the backbone of.

chine

³

[ chahyn ]

noun

1. chime ².

chiné

⁴

[ shee-ney ]

adjective

1. noting or pertaining to a fabric having a variegated pattern produced by warp threads that have been dyed, printed, or painted before weaving.

chine

¹

/ tʃaɪn /

noun

1. another word for chime 2

chiné

²

/ ˈʃiːneɪ /

adjective

1. textiles having a mottled pattern

chine

³

/ tʃaɪn /

noun

1. the backbone
2. the backbone of an animal with adjoining meat, cut for cooking
3. a ridge or crest of land
4. (in some boats) a corner-like intersection where the bottom meets the side

verb

1. tr to cut (meat) along or across the backbone

chine

⁴

/ tʃaɪn /

noun

1. dialect.
   a deep fissure in the wall of a cliff

Word History and Origins

Origin of chine¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English chine, chinne, chin, Old English cīne, cȳne “crevice, fissure”; cognate with Middle Dutch kēne; compare Old English cīnan “to gape, crack open”

Origin of chine²

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English chine, schine, Anglo-French achine, from Old French eschine, from Germanic; shin ¹

Origin of chine³

1850–55; < French, past participle of chiner, verbal derivative of Chine China

Word History and Origins

Origin of chine¹

C19: from French chiner to make in the Chinese fashion, from Chine China

Origin of chine²

C14: from Old French eschine, of Germanic origin; compare Old High German scina needle, shinbone; see shin ¹

Origin of chine³

Old English cīnan to crack

Example Sentences

Sitting in the antique store was this piece, made out of papel de chine, newsprint, clay pot and ceramic head.

From Washington Times

Delicate gold spiderwebs on a black crepe de chine gown, for example; also a trench coat turned out in blood-red PVC; and a handbag emblazoned with the warning “Beware of Moschino.”

From Los Angeles Times

There was Etta’s long blue crêpe de chine evening dress and some white pumps and a rhinestone tiara for her hair.

From Literature

Her first resort was a black crepe de chine dress which, according to the dressing table mirror, bestowed by means of clever cutting a certain severity of form.

From Literature

He added that the name comes from the fact that you can “draw a dead-straight line at any point along the bottom of the hull as it rises from the keel to the chine.”

From Washington Times

Related Words

• bone
• vertebrae